Panchatantra - A Milestone for an Effective Teaching Method || Bikram Badyakar
Panchatantra - A Milestone for an Effective Teaching Method
Introduction:
Panchatantra is one of the greatest books in the history of Sanskrit fiction in India. In his book, the author, Vishnu Sharma has shown examples of giving moral education through juicy stories. That is why Panchatantra is also called ethics. Not a single story is unnecessary in Panchatantra. In each story, different aspects of politics have been presented to the common people in a simple and understandable way. It will not be an exaggeration to say that Panchatantra is the essence of all Arthashastra composed by Manu, Kautilya, Shukracharya, Vyas, Vrihaspati, Parashar, and other greatest sages. By reading or listening to this book, even the less intelligent or inexperienced people become intelligent for living a practical life.
Background of Panchatantra:
Long ago there was a state in South India called Mahilaopya. And there was a king named Amar Shakti. He was well versed in all the arts and was famous not only in his own kingdom but also in the surrounding kingdoms for his knowledge, erudition, fame, prowess, etc. But the king was worried about something and for which he was suffering a lot in his mind. In fact, he had three sons named Bahushakti Ugrashakti Anantashakti. Those who are ignorant, and inattentive to study. However, Raja Amar Shakti did not have such a shortcoming in educating the boys. He formed an organization of 500 teachers to educate his sons and engage them in making the boys scholars. But nothing worked. Those five hundred teachers failed to make these foolish boys scholars. Finally, the king called his ministers and held a meeting on how to keep the boys focused on their studies. Because it is said that -
"It is better to be childless, even if a son is born and dies, it is good, but it should not be a foolish son. Because the first two sons will suffer temporarily but the foolish son will suffer till death."
Among the ministers in the meeting, the first one said that "Oh king, learning is like a banyan tree - it does not spring up overnight, but takes years and years to grow."
"There is so much to learn, ' added another. 'For instance, grammar, which alone takes twelve years to master.... "
'And the law which takes even longer,' said the third minister.
'And philosophy ...and economics,' claimed in the fourth minister.
'And the sciences ...and mathematics, ' declared the fifth minister.
'And then the arts,' counted the sixth minister.
'Therefore, as your highness can see.... ' said the seventh one with a sigh.
'Educating the princes is an impossible task! '
concluded the eight.
The king looked sadly at his ministers and thought to himself that it was his ultimate fate to have foolish and ignorant sons. Just then another minister, Sumati, known for his common sense and practical approach to life, said:
“O king, it's true that knowledge takes many years to acquire, but true knowledge comes from neither the rules of grammar nor the innumerable scriptures. True knowledge must be distilled and extracted from life itself. The princes do not need many years to acquire knowledge. Instead, they need a method of learning and a teacher who can open their minds and guide them towards worldly wisdom.”
'And do you know of such a teacher?' asked the king curiously.
Sumati nodded. 'Yes, sir. His name is Vishnu Sharma. He is an experienced teacher and famous among the students, and what's more, he lives in our own city of Mahilaropya.'
The king wasted no more time but summoned Vishnu Sharma to the palace at once. When the old teacher stood before him he greeted him with folded hands.
'Your fame as a teacher has reached my ears, O Vishnu Sharma, and I have called you here to educate my three sons .' said the king. 'The princes are ignorant. If you can turn them into wise and learned men, I will give you a hundred villages in reward.
'O king,' replied Vishnusharma, 'I will not sell my learning, not even for a hundred villages. I am now eighty years old. At my age, I'm not interested in wealth and have no need for it. But to fulfill your wishes, l will tutor your sons in how to live wisely and well. Within six months from now, I will make your sons learn beyond all. '
King Amar Shakti was relieved by his words and entrusted his sons to his care.
Then Vishnu Sharma, to educate the three princes, devised the story of Panchatantra. The three princes had become knowledgeable and wise young men, just as Vishnu Sharma had promised.
Vishnu Sharma - Inventor of an Effective Teaching Method
Teaching is a process where information and ideas are exchanged among the teacher and the students. So the method of teaching by which information is exchanged should be very effective and smooth and every learner can easily understand what the teacher is saying. But sometimes the same teaching method is not suitable for all learners with a different psychology. That is why sometimes a teacher is not able to explain a topic simply to all the students. At first, a teacher should know the individual difference among the students. All the students belong to different sociological, psychological, and economical backgrounds. That's why they are different from each other. So sometimes one teaching method doesn't work on all the students with different capacities Therefore, sometimes the teaching method should be changed as per the student's requirements. Teaching is a dynamic process. In this context, Ignacio Estrada, director for grants administration at the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, says that -
"If a child can't learn the way we teach,
we should teach the way they learn."
This quotation is very much contextual in teaching. In Panchatantra, we have read the story where King Amar Shakti's five hundred teachers failed to make his sons educated. Maybe those teachers couldn't understand these little princes in which way they wanted to learn, and didn't even emphasize a little on that or didn't understand that even. They used lecture methods only which were the most common and the most used by tradition to teach them Sanskrit grammar, Vedas, political scriptures, ethics, philosophy, and so on. These subjects were very essential to learn for the three little princes. But the way (lecture method ) they were taught wasn't correct for them. As a result, they were unable to learn anything from those teachers and were called fools. In the movie 'TAARE ZAMEEN PAR' we have watched Ishaan Awasthi, the little boy, depressed and humiliated, who couldn't understand anything in his classes. And all the teachers are incapable of understanding him and his problem and simply ignore him. But at the boarding school, Ram Shankar Nikumbh, a new temporary art teacher notices his problem and thinks that Ishan is also a bright student. Then Nikumbh Sir uses a new teaching technique that is suitable for him. Using specific methods and techniques, Ishaan starts developing his interest in language and mathematical skills. Eventually, grades start to improve.
When Vishnu Sharma was appointed on the advice of Sumati, he may have realized the real problem of the princes. He may have understood that princes were unable to read and understand the textbooks through the lecture method. He thought that if the teaching method was changed then surely they would understand reading and also would be encouraged to read. Hence, he easily promised the king that within six months he would educate his three sons and transform them from fool to smart. He came out of the traditional teaching method of that time and started a new technique of teaching. He used a storytelling method, by which he taught them the ethics and essence of all Arthashastra. The most difficult and critical theories can be taught or expressed by storytelling techniques. This method is not only convenient for children but also for adults. Nowadays, motivational speakers use this method to motivate us. In Panchatantra, those princes enjoyed this teaching technique and became smart within six months.
Conclusion:
After hearing the story of Panchatantra, almost every child in India descends into adolescence. The essence of Nitishastra is injected into their blood. And that is probably why India is such a moral country. This tradition of telling stories of Panchatantra to the children has been going on for a long time and may continue in the future also. There is no doubt that these stories made the foolish princes wise in morality and politics. And finally, we have to praise that Vishnu Sharma's teaching skills with which even the foolish sons of the wise king could become wise.
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